Reigning NAMA artists speak

Chikune''s reign hasn''t been smooth so far but the perks of being the female artitist of the year include her getting recognition internationally.



Chikune

Take us through the night you

were announced as the winner

I definitely remember the night my name was called out like it was yesterday. I had initially concluded that the award was going to someone else and not me you know. I thought the night was already done and pretty much wasn''t going with anything. That''s why I was so shocked when they called me and all the emotions poured out.

My husband was very happy for me. I thought he was going to explode. Lol. It was a happy moment for me and my family as well as my team.



What has having the title

done for you thus far?

I should admit that I gained some level of confidence with the title Female Artist of the Year. Although it didn''t go as well as I had thought it would go because of the drama and politics associated with my awards but, the title and my début album boost my self-confidence. It also opened a lot of doors and other platforms for me.

I recently won the AFRIMMA award for Best Female in Southern Africa which is only legible if you have a title in your own country and without the NAMA award, I wouldn''t have had that. So, I''m really grateful for it.



Tell us more about

the AFRIMMA award

The AFRIMMA title is another title I am happy I bagged because this will really open doors and I can collaborate with anyone by simply having the AFRIMMA title. My team and I are busy in contact with the event organisers so I don''t really know what else I have won besides recognition. I am renowned internationally and not just within our own boarders. That is awesome.



How have you used

your NAMA prizes thus far?

I haven''t received my prizes (the money and car) yet. I got the award on Wednesday at the award ceremony. I''m battling it out in court now and I don''t know if it''s with Sula or MTC because it''s generally confusing. At this point I don''t know if it will come to an end because it has dragged throughout the year. I haven''t even thought of what I will do with the money if I get it but I wanted to pay my tuition fees with it and also put it back into my music. I''m not banking on it and I am just going to move forward.



What are you up to?

I''m busy working on the content for my next album at the moment; I don''t plan on releasing it this year. I will release a few singles so far which is what my fans can expect



Would you advise someone to pursue a career in music?

If it''s your passion, if music makes you happy and you feel it''s what God has given you as a talent then sure, go for it. The thing is there will be many people who will try to knock you down but push forward. Don''t give any excuses, go on.

I thank my fans for the undying support, thank you so much. For those that stood by me and those that voted for the AFRMMA. I don''t do it just for me; I do it for all of us. Please follow me on social media so we keep in touch.



Big Ben

What was going through

your mind the night you won?

I have said it before, it was very weird because you wouldn''t know whether to scream, laugh, cry or cuss somebody. It''s a fusion of mixed feelings I tell you. Then it actually hits you...wow I actually won something and I had to figure out how to get on the stage and receive the award and say something which I wasn''t prepared for. I had nix, nothing to say. It then hit me a few minutes later but now everyone is leaving the venue so I was just like what happens now?

What has having the title

done for you thus far?

MTC hosted the event and gave me my prizes with no conditions whatsoever. I used the money how I wanted as well as the car. I can say that I got a lot of performance invites after winning the male artist of the year but however, I also had some I had to finish up with some gigs that where pre-booked prior the NAMAs. So it was a thing of prioritising the calendar. I decided not to push people that I have been working with away because these are the companies and individuals that have kept me alive. A lot of people that booked me (artists of the year and not Big Ben) are only getting a chance now. This is because after the NAMAs, I will still be Big Ben and I will need my traditional clients.



How does the NAMA title

benefit the awardees?

As happy as I am about everything I am worried about how we artists can add value to the industry with the NAMA. Right now, an artist gets a little cash injection and moves on. Could the NAMAs, apart from just adding to the title do more perhaps? Namibia cannot sustain us in terms of population. Can the NAMAs spend more money taking us out of the country and give us links and introduce us to the relevant people instead of them bringing them here to tell us how to become stars while they are already refusing to believe that we are stars in fact. You know. Organisations like NAMA try, but they could do more.



What are you up to in

your musical career?

I want to release an album but traditionally I don''t release every year. I have my music ready and I have international afro jazz artists that I''ve been working with and we plan to host a SADC jazz festival. Unfortunately with this, my schedule got too much and I can''t now really work on my album as time is scarce. My album will come because it is ready.

Let''s live life and enjoy what we are doing. Let the rewards come in because you enjoyed what you did. Don''t claim rewards just because you want to give a beautiful speech at the end of the day.

June Shimuoshili